Boro fans turned out in force at the Riverside Stadium to sign a giant good luck card with messages of support for Steve McClaren's team ahead of Sunday's Carling Cup final.

The giant card, produced by Dial-a-Phone, the UK's leading direct mobile phone specialist and Boro's official sponsor, has been signed by hundreds of fans and will be presented to the Boro players by an Evening Gazette competition winner at the final training session before they head off to Cardiff tomorrow.

Boro fan Shaun Finn, the first person to sign the card, said: "It is fantastic that Boro are in a final again and I would like to wish the team the best of luck against Bolton.

"I will be cheering the boys all the way and I hope that they come back with the cup."